Dirigible balloon.



Patented .12111.24, 1911.

E L L I U E P.. V. L

DIRIGIBLE BALLOON.

APPLGATIUN FILED 00118, 1909. 982,356.

TH: NoRRls PETERS co., wAsHlNaroN, D, c4

LOUIS VALENTIN FEUILLET, 0F PARIS, FRANCE.

DIRIGIBLE BALLOON.

To all whom it may concern:

Bo it FEUILLET, a citizen of the French `tepublic, and resident of Paris, France, have in` vented certain new and useful Improvements in Dirigible Balloons, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved construction of dirigible balloon which is capable of being driven at a high speed, its direction being under complete control and the safety of the aeronauts or occupants of the car of the vessel is insured even in case of destruction of the balloon proper.

The balloon is designed specially for military and postal services, and is so constructed as to keep its distinguishing fea- -tures concealed from the eyes of unauthorized persons who may succeed in approaching within a very short distance. The balloon proper which it is proposed to employ is of cigar shape with a pointed end and provided with a central spindle, and to it the car is suspended by means of a parachute which becomes operative on the collapse or deflation of the envelop.

A suitable method of c-arrying` my invention into effect is illustrated in the accom panying drawing, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of the complete apparatus, Fig. 2 a plan view of the car of the balloon, and Fig. 3 a perspective view thereof. Fig. 4 is a view of the rear end of the car showing the screws in broken lines. Fig. l5 an end view of the keel attached to the underside of the ballon, and Fig. 6 a plan view of such keel.

In these drawings the balloon proper 1 is of cigar shape and comprises an outer envelop mounted on a longitudinal frame, spindles or stays 2, and fitted at its rear end with wings 1a of strong silk mounted on a frame of light steel rods which serve to impart stability to the rear of the balloon, the vertical wings arranged at top and bot tom of the balloon being preferably shorter than the horizontal ones arranged on the opposite sides thereof, as shown in Fig. l.

The underside of the envelop of the balloon is provided with a keel 46 consisting in a light canvas or sail cloth cover secured to the top and bottom of an aluminium frame composed of longitudinal side rods 47 connected by cross stays 48 and having a cenknown that I, Louis Vnnnn'rin .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.Application filed October 18, 1909.

Patented J an. 24, 1911.

Serial No. 523,230.

tral vertical upright 49 as shown in Fig. 5, while Fig. (5 shows the plan of such keel, which as will be seen terminates at -its forward end in a pointed cutter head 50 and on the rear of which is mounted the rudder 23 hereinafter described.

The extreme forward end of the envelop of the ballon is fitted with a conical ram or spur 51 preferably of aluminium, and serving in time of war to ram the envelop of an adversarys balloon and by piercing same to disable or destroy the balloon.

Over the central part of the envelop transversely in the direction of its length, a safety parachute of any suitable material 3 is arranged so as to rest on the upper part thereof, its opposite edges 4 being secured to the spindles 2 by means of a network of cords 4, and to which are also attached the supporting or carrying ables 5 of the car 6. The parachute 3 is covered with an independent chain net 7 serving to impart the necessary stability thereto, to prevent same by its inflation or distention presenting an opposing resistance to the travel of the aerostat. The light chain net covering the safety device will like the parachute proper be attached to the main part of the longitudinal frame, stays or spindles 2.

It will be seen that should the envelop l be pierced or become deflated or collapse from any cause while the balloon is in midair, the parachute will remain distended and serve to insure the gradual descent of the car and the consequent safety of its occupants.

The car G consists of an upper and lower division, which I will proceed to describe in detail.

The upper division is composed of six parts as follows:

lst. The cutter head or nose 7a the sides and top of which are of light iron and which as shown is shaped to facilitate the cutting of the passage for the vessel through the air.

2nd. The ballast compartment S above which is the base or bed plate 9 to receive an electric search light 10 for projecting light to illuminate the surrounding space for a. great distance during the night and facilitate the taking of observations.

3rd. The entrance 11 to the car, communicating with the compartment 12 for the crew of the vessel in which the steering wheel 13 for controlling the direction of] travel in the manner to be hereinaftendescribed is arranged.

4th. A shield 14 of strong canvas surrounds the rear part of' the two parallel sides of the upper part of the car to a height of about 1 m. 25 e. in., with the exception of the ballast compartment 3, the outer walls of which are preferably of thin sheet iron. The object of this `shield is to effectually conceal from view the controlling means contained in the interior of the upper part of the car. The rear of the car where the propeller shaft 15 is situated is constructed of strong wood and supp'orts such shaft which carries the screws 16. The two parallel sides of the upper part of the car are provided with twelve or more strong iron bars arranged vertically on cach side to form an inclosure of U-form, and each connected to one of the cables 5 by which the car is suspended from the balloon 1, through the network 4 secured to the edge of the parachute 2 resting on the envelop of such balloon.

5th. The compartment 17 in which is mounted the propeller shaft 15 driven by the two independent belts 18 from the parallel shaft of the electro-motor 19 arranged in. the lower part of the car.

6th. The canopy or cover 20 is intended to conceal from view the chain wheel 21, and the endless chain 22 which through the steering wheel 13 immediately controls the rudders 23 and 24 of the balloon and car respectively in the manner to be hereinafter described.

The under or lower division of the car is composed of five different parts viz.

lst. The lower part of the cutter head or nose 7a, such lower part being covered with canvas.

2nd. The compartment or magazine 25 for the ammunition of a movable detachable aerial gun or cannon 26 mounted therein and passing through an opening formed beneath the ballast compartment 8 in the flooring of the lower part at the forward end of the car.

3rd. A compartment 27 intended for reserve provisions, the storing of postal bags (when same are employed) and which may be supplied with two or more sleeping hammocks for resting the men of the equipage.

4th. The compartment 28 for the electromotor 19 with its accun'iulators 30 which effeet the regular propulsion of the vessel through the two screws 16, 16 mounted on shaft 15 at right angles to each other, said shaft being fitted with weights 31 and 32 arranged respectively between the two screws and between the independent drivingbelts 18, and serving as iiy wheels to equalize or render uniform the running of the shaft 15,

5th. A sledge or runners 33 of strong wood with iron facings, and arranged at the base of the lower part ot the mi', on untill-h the whole car rests, so that when the aerostat grounds there will be no pitching or rolling when it touches the earth, the car remaining immovable on its new supports.

The following is a description of the arrangement and operation of the steering mechanism: The steering wheel 13 is mounted horizontally on the vertical shaft 34 and is operated by hand from the interior of the compartment 12 of the upper part of the car, and serves at the will of the operator to actuate simultaneously both the large rudder 24 fitted to the rear of the car and the smaller rudder 23 fitted under the envelop of the balloon 1 in the position shown in the perspective view of the complete aerostat illustrated in Fig. 1. The vertical shaft 34 carries chain wheel 21 at its upper end and chain wheel 35 at its lower end, connected respectively by endless chains 22 and 36 to corresponding half-chain wheels 37 and 38 mounted on the upper and lower extremities of the rudder post 39 to which the large rudder 24 of the car is attached. A tiller 40 is mounted on the upper end of the rudder post 39, and from its opposite extremities rudder lines 41 proceed toward the smaller rudder 23, the outer eX- tremity of each being divided and its two ends connected respectively to the upper and lowerl tillers 42, 42- attached to the opposite extremities of the rudder post 43 of said rudder 23 mounted as above stated nuclei' the body of the envelop of the balloon 1.

It will thus be seen that the rudders 23 and 24 of the balloon and car respectively will be simultaneously actuated by the operation of steering wheel 13.

Emergency safety cables 44 to be used in case ot' the large rudder 24 being` disabled are provided and proceed separately and independently from the two tillers 42 of the small balloon rudder 23 and after passing through rings mounted on the ends of tiller 40 of the rudder post 39 of the large rudder 24 of the car, then descend along the iron struts or stays 51a (which serve to strengthen the uprights 52 of the car frame and help them to support the superincumbent weight they have to bear) and terminate at and are attached to separate hooks 53 fixed on the inner walls of the shield or guard 14, in positions within reach of the operator to enable him to handle same and direct the course of the balloon by pulling one cable or the other and so operate the balloon rudder 23 independently of the larger car rudder 24 in case of accident to the latter.

The balloon pro-per (exclusive of accesseries) may conveniently be of a total length of 65 meters and that of the parachute 30 meters, while the total length of the car therefor will be about l2 m. 50 c. 111. from the cutter head or nose 7 to the extremity of the rudder The diameter of the envelop at its widest part vertically will be-preferably about ll meters and its width horizontally 9 meters so that its section will be of distinctly oval form, while as above stated its forward end tapers to a conical point and its rear end is rounded and provided with the horizontal and vertical wings hereinbefore described, so that the capacity of such envelop is preferably approximately 3,800 cubic meters, and should be inflated with pure hydrogen.

As above stated the screw propellers 16, 16 which are of steel are mounted on shaft- 15 at right angles to and separated from each other, and having a weight 32 applied between them on such shaft., the total length of said screws for an apparatus of the dimensions above indicated being three meters, and being composed of two blades of a width of 50 c. 1n. at their outer extremities, which are preferably strengthened by steel blades l5 as shown with the object of considerably augmenting the propelling power of the screws, which it is estimated will per- .mit of a speed of 70 kilometers per hour being attained by the vessel. The special construction `of the car will render it possible to conceal the essential elements for propelling and steering the vessel from inspection by unauthorized persons who may succeed in approaching within a comparatively -short distance.

I am aware that it has already been proposed to employ a parachute in conjunction with balloons which have been free, but not with such as have been provided with mechanism for propelling` and steering same, and it has moreover been proposed to employ two screws on a propeller shaft for aerial navigation, but not in conjunction with weights acting as fly wheels in a position intermediate of said screws.

IIaving now fully described my said invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a dirigible balloon of the kind described, the combination with an inflated envelop of cigar shape, of a separate envelop forming a parachute and arranged over said inflated envelop, a chain net covering said parachute, a keel for said inflated envelop, a car, means for suspending said car from the said parachute a rudder fitted at the rear end of said car, a second rudder fitted under the said inflated envelop of the balloon and at the rear end of said keel, means for simultaneously operating such rudders from said car, and means for propelling the balloon, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a dirigible balloon of the kind described the combination with an inflated envelop of cigar shape, of a separate envelop forming a parachute and arranged over said inflated envelop, a keel for said inflated envelop, a car, means for suspending the said car from the said parachute, a rudder fit-ted lat the rear end of said car, a second rudder fitted under the said inflated envelop at the rear end of said keel, means for simultaneously operating said rudders from said car, means for operating the said second rudder fitted under the said inflated envelop, independently from the rudder fitted at the rear end of the car and means for propelling the said balloon, substantially as and for the -purpose set forth.

3. In a dirigible balloon the combination with an inflated envelop of cigar shape, of a separate envelop forming a parachute and arranged over said inflated envelop, a keel for said inflated envelop, a car, means for suspending the said car from the said parachute, a rudder fitted at the rear end of said car, a second rudder fitted at the rear end of said keel, means for controlling both rudders from the said car and means for controlling separately the rudder fitted at the rear end of said keel, a shaft mounted in said car, a motor for driving said shaft, a

propeller fitted to said shaft and comprisingv two screws set at rightangles to each other and each composed of two blades, weights mounted on said propeller shaftbetween said screws and also, if desired at other points of the length of said shaft, said weights serving as fly wheels for equaliaing and insurii'lg regularity of the movement imparted to said shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS VALENTIN FEUILLET. Witnesses:

F. W. KLEINseHMm'r, HANsoN C. Coxn. 

